I was asked to repost this with the news of 13 Italian doctors dying from COVID-19. If you do not have proper PPE, do not go in. No matter what.

This post is for my healthcare workers, docs, surgeons, Nurses, aids, and EMS, and all staff.

There is no emergency in a pandemic.

You as a healthcare worker are a force multiplier. Your training and experience is invaluable moving into this crisis. So, you’re going to be faced with some very difficult moments. You’re going to have to put your needs first.

I’m speaking specifically about PPE and your safety.

If you’re an ICU nurse, or an ICU doc, and you become infected, not only are you out of the game for potentially weeks (or killed). But your replacements could be people without your expertise. Your remaining co-workers are short staffed now, more likely to make mistakes and become ill themselves. You stop being a force multiplier and start using healthcare resources.

You going in may save the patient, it may not. But you cant save any patients in the weeks you’re laying in a hospital bed or using a vent yourself.

People are going to die. Do not become one of them.

There is no emergency in a pandemic.

During the Ebola outbreak, people were dying. But at no point did we rush in, we took the 10 minutes to put on our PPE with our spotter. If we didn’t have proper PPE we did NOT go in.

There is no emergency in a pandemic.

You may work in long term care, and want to rush in to save a patient you have had for years. Do not go in without your PPE.

There is no emergency in a pandemic.

You may have a survivor in the room, screaming at you to come in because their mother is crashing. Do not go in without your PPE.

There is no emergency in a pandemic.

You may have an infected woman in labor. Screaming for help. Do not go in without your PPE.

There is no emergency in a pandemic.

You may have a self-quarantined patient with a gunshot wound who is bleeding out. Do not go in there without your PPE.

There is no emergency in a pandemic.

Doing nothing may be the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do in your life.

Many of you say, I could never do that. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from rushing in and saving my patient.

Liberian nurses and doctors said the same thing, and many did run in to help, saying PPE be damned. My patients need me.

30 thoughts on “There is no emergency in a pandemic.”

Martha,
Your words are always so relevant and compelling. I look forward to every one of your posts. This one in particular truly tugs at my heart. As a mom I understand how women in particular, have such a strong drive to run in and help. Your message, “There is no emergency in a pandemic” should be plastered all over the walls in every health care facility. Bless you for your bottomless bucket of compassion for the world! Heartfelt hugs and hope to you and all of your family. We think of you often.

Thank you for sharing this…this is true and has to be first and foremost for all concerned!! As hard as the medical personnel may find their self facing the current situation…by all means follow these words “there is no emergency in a pandemic”!! Your life and mine depends on that!! God bless you!! ❤️🇺🇸

Thank you so much for such a powerful reminder to all of us healthcare workers! If we become infected and much worse, die, we are becoming a statistic. We have dedicated our lives to helping others and it must be done with the utmost precautions in a pandemic, absolutely! If a plane is going down, we must don our own oxygen mask first in order to save others. PPE is imperative for us to survive and continue to be of service. 😷🙏

This is absolutely on point, and I’ve been saying the same thing all along. It’s our individual responsibility to protect ourselves. If we don’t we quickly become casualties. I was a power lineman for three decades. No matter the situation, certain safety protocols HAVE to be followed. Anything less WILL result in immediate devastating injury or death. No event warrants the suspension of safety rules/laws/equipment. Look what happened to the first responders from 911 as an example.

Thank you for such inspiring word.i was upset as I didn’t go for duty , upset because I am doing nothing for humankind even after being a doctor.Though pandemic isn’t the reason,the reason is my work place is far from home and in the locked down situation I have no transport.if j had transport I would do duty , Though my hospital didn’t supply PPE and I am the only one in my four members family who runs after the whole family. My upsetness lessened a bit after reading this article.thank you.

I commend all your selfless actions to help pther people in need of your professional abilities I don’t know how you manage the stress of staying healthy yourself but also your own families Please follow the words of this knowledgeable nurse And be safe we all care and thank you for your dedication and service to your country and the world you really do make a great difference in this uncertain time we are going through you all should be very proud of what you are doing to help others I thank you with all my heart

Thank you for all the values information. My daughter is a nurse for 20+ years in ICU open heart surgery. I hope she stays safe during this unbelievable times. I love her very much and so does her two children!!!😘

I think this is really good and important for those of you out there helping take care of all of us. This reminds me that it’s better to be slow and deliberate than it is to rush in and try to do something as quickly as possible.

So true no emergency during a pandemic. Same message was enforced during SARS and again now. Remember you need to always put yourself first and dress appropriately in the proper PPE including the blue gown especially if you’re manipulating the airway. Some may think you are abusing the PPE but you are responsible for your safety while on the job. So utilise your clinical and critical thinking skills at all time to ensure full protection of yourself. Do not become another statistic or patient.

I traveled from Oregon to New York to help. I require an xs mask. I have been given four and told to make them last. I’m here for six weeks. If more masks are not provided from the private box (I tried buying but none available), I’m out of here after the fourth day. No properly fitting N95, no nurse!!